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The slings and arrows continue over former manager Bobby Valentine's reign of error this season in Boston.

Tim Bogar, who served as bench coach with the Red Sox, has rejected Valentine's accusation that the team's staff undermined him.

That is "completely wrong," Bogar told ESPN Boston.

"That bothers me because of what the coaches went through this year and what we dealt with. The coaching staff was prepared to do everything that we were supposed to do to help Bobby succeed, but not once did he portray what he wanted us to do to help him and eventually he shut some of us out completely."

Valentine has taken shots at the staff -- before and after being fired three weeks ago -- saying, "I should have made sure the coaches were my guys."

Bogar said he had a good relationship with the players. "The only bad communication was between Bobby and everyone," Bogar said. "The rest of the communication was great."

"I don't have much to say," Guillen said in a text message to the Miami Herald. "No matter what I say, people are going to believe what they want to believe.

"That's why I'm going to stay away ... I know some people are on my side. They should because I don't think it was the right decision. But (his former bosses) have the right to do whatever they have to do."

JAPANESE TEEN EYES MLB

Pitching prospect Shohei Otani was a first-round draft pick Thursday in the his native Japan, but the 18-year-old reiterated his intention to sign in North America.

The Nippon Ham Fighters, who drafted him, have until March 31 to sign the 6-foot-4 right-hander to a Japanese league contract.

Otani instead is interested in signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers or Boston Red Sox, although he reportedly wouldn't be allowed to jump to MLB until April 1.

"I have heard that other teams are interested, but right now I think I want to select from the three," Otani told Nikkan Sports.

Otani's fastball has been clocked at 99 m.p.h.

RIVERA PONDERS RETIREMENT

Mariano Rivera reportedly is rethinking his plan to pitch again next season.

Rivera "has the familiar tug that he has carried for many years of possibly wanting to stay home with his family and call it a career," a source told ESPN New York.

The long-time New York Yankees closer turns 43 on Nov. 29.

Rivera pitched in just nine games this season before tearing a ligament in his right knee, which led to season-ending surgery. At the time he vowed to return. He is a pending a free agent.

Meanwhile, veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki wants to return to the Yankees, a source told the New York Post.

Suzuki, 39, revitalized his career after being traded July 23 to New York from Seattle. He hit .322 with five homers and 27 RBI in 67 games with the Yankees.

BRIEFLY

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had arthroscopic shoulder surgery Thursday and faces six weeks of rehab. The 28-year-old Zimmerman hit .282 with 25 home runs and 95 RBI this season ... New York Yankees left-handed pitcher C.C. Sabathia had arthroscopic surgery to remove a small bone spur from his throwing elbow. Sabathia, 32, is expected to be ready before spring training. He had a 15-6 record and a 3.38 earned-run average this season ... General manager John Mozeliak confirmed that the Cardinals are "probably unlikely" to re-sign starter Kyle Lohse, a pending free agent, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The Cards have prospects Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal ready to contend for spots in the rotation ... The Cardinals also announced they wouldn't renew the contract of bullpen coach Dyar Miller. The rest of manager Mike Matheny's coaching staff will be offered an opportunity to stay ... Game 1 of the World Series earned Fox an 8.8 overnight rating, the second-lowest for a World Series opener, Sports Business Daily reported. Viewership tailed off after San Francisco took a one-sided lead. The rating was down was down 8% from the 2011 World Series opener, and ahead of only the St. Louis-Detroit opener in 2006.